Intervertebral disc disease in cats: presentation and prognosis
11-year-old domestic shorthair cat with lumbar pain and acute-onset non-ambulatory paraparesis. Femoral pulses are normal, limbs are warm and nails bleed when clipped. Deep pain is preserved.
Which statement is correct?
chevron_right Show answer and explanation
A. Although less common than in dogs, older cats can suffer disc extrusions, often in the lumbar region, and surgery generally carries a good prognosis
Correct. Clinical disc herniation in cats mainly affects middle-aged and older animals, with a predilection for the lumbar spine. With deep pain preserved, most regain walking after decompression.
B. Disc herniation has no clinical relevance in cats; with normal pulses, aortic thromboembolism is almost certainly the cause
It is the opposite: present femoral pulses, warm limbs and bleeding nails make aortic thromboembolism very unlikely. Disc herniation is uncommon in cats, but it does occur.
C. In cats, as in small-breed dogs, the most common location is cervical
In cats thoracolumbar and lumbar lesions predominate; cervical herniation is rare in this species.
D. As the species is less sensitive to adverse effects, high-dose corticosteroids are the first-line treatment
High-dose corticosteroids have shown no benefit in acute spinal cord injury in any species, and in cats they can precipitate diabetes or decompensate occult heart disease.
lightbulb Key takeaway
In a cat with paraparesis, first rule out aortic thromboembolism (pulses, pad temperature and colour, muscle pain), then consider lymphoma, FIP, trauma and disc herniation. Feline disc disease is usually lumbar and has a good surgical prognosis if deep pain is preserved.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.